The busy season.

[Clayton Bass]

I recently became a boat owner, about what time of year do the ramps get a little less busy and the amount of ski boats, pontoons, and jet ski's calm down. All the traffic makes me nervous since I have so little lake boating experience. Any less popular places to put in around Big M/ Eagle rock? Eagle rock was basically solid ski boats and pontoons this weekend. If I am strictly interested in fishing would I be better off putting in around Cape Fair? Thank you.

[Devan S.]

37 minutes ago, Clayton Bass said:

I recently became a boat owner, about what time of year do the ramps get a little less busy and the amount of ski boats, pontoons, and jet ski's calm down. All the traffic makes me nervous since I have so little lake boating experience. Any less popular places to put in around Big M/ Eagle rock? Eagle rock was basically solid ski boats and pontoons this weekend. If I am strictly interested in fishing would I be better off putting in around Cape Fair? Thank you.

If your strictly wanting to fish there are quite few coves/small creek arms where the bigger boats wont be as plentiful. Think way back in roaring river, owl creek past the boat docks, rock creek, and maybe Viney cove(viney cove will be subject to large boats). 

There are decent smaller ramps in owl creek and several in Viney Cove on the Emerald Beach side. Use google maps to get locations.  

The problem with all of this is at some point your going to have to run down lake or will at some point meet or pass a pleasure craft unless you launch at owl creek and stay up past the boat docks(even then it might happen). If I was really wanting to fish a larger area you could put in at Hickory Hollow on the Kings side and fish a lot of the river. Still yet there will likely be some level of boats even up that far and the lake is much smaller up there. 

Unfortunately it wont be until school starts before its starts throttling down and then the weekend will still be busy. Your best bet will be launch before daylight and pull off as they start coming out.  

[eyedabassman]

After Labor day it gets better! Weekends are a bit busy but weekdays are much better for fishing and not fighting all the nut jobs.

[Ellros]

3 hours ago, Clayton Bass said:

I recently became a boat owner, about what time of year do the ramps get a little less busy and the amount of ski boats, pontoons, and jet ski's calm down. All the traffic makes me nervous since I have so little lake boating experience. Any less popular places to put in around Big M/ Eagle rock? Eagle rock was basically solid ski boats and pontoons this weekend. If I am strictly interested in fishing would I be better off putting in around Cape Fair? Thank you.

    After Labor Day and when schools are back in session